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By Myrna Trauntvein
TN Correspondent

Folks in the West Desert continue to worry about other places trying to take the water that they depend on.

“The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is reviving the permitting effort for the Cedar City Pipeline and West Desert Water Grab,” said Barbara Mumm.

She said that the effort to siphon water away from rural counties in Utah and Nevada will have far-reaching impacts for centuries to come.

“Without your help and support water ways connected to Great Basin National Park, Fish Springs National Wildlife Refuge, rural communities, and a Paiute Tribal Band will be siphoned away for development in Cedar City and inflicting harm, conflict and uncertainty.,” she said.

The people of the West Desert appreciated and were grateful for the help they had received from the county commission when the Las Vegas Water Grab was being considered. It had been a big help, she said.

Marvin Kenison, commission president, said that the water users in the West Desert could count on the commission for continued support.

“Point blank, the proponents said that they needed the water to keep Cedar City growing,” said Mumm.

They did not seem to care that they would destroy farming in the West Desert and other areas as long as Cedar City could keep growing and attract more business.

Groundwater systems are not like separate, distinct buckets of water. USGS reports and decades of hydrologic analysis show inter-connected flow system throughout the region, meaning that groundwater moves from one basin to another. The proposed project will rob Peter to pay Paul.

“We need to do some independent hydrology studies,” said Kenison.

The proposed project doesn’t look like it will limit regional conflict, boost water availability and decrease uncertainty about the future. Communities outside of Iron County that will be impacted are already quarreling over limited water availability. This is exacerbating the tensions.

“Cedar City’s project will not benefit other counties and communities.,” said Mumm.

Clinton Painter, commissioner, said that the commission would back the residents of the West Desert in their attempt to prevent the water from being taken in another water grab.

The project proponents’ own data show that the project will take from Snake Valley, Tule Valley, Wah Wah Valley, and the Escalante Desert.

Scenarios from the USGS show that it could be even worse. Ultimately, impacts could reach the water table of the Great Salt Lake.\Over-appropriation and over-drafting of aquifers should not be allowed. Utah and Nevada water law prohibits these practices.

Marty Palmer, commissioner, said that the county needed to put numbers together.

After ignoring water users and community members, BLM is not taking the right approach by promising a final decision in the coming months.

We believe BLM should mandate restarting the process because of the concerns raised by the public in 2022.

Ratepayers in Cedar City and Iron County will likely not be able to afford the project. The project proponents’ own estimates show that the effort could increase bills by 300-700 percent in some cases.

The Great Basin Water Network had a great attorney but he had died,” Mumm said.

Some who had been associated with him had stepped up to help out.

“This water will be far more expensive than the water being brought to Juab County through Central Utah,” said Kenison. “The problem is, that water follows money.”

Painter said that they were being supportive of the West Desert and their need to protect their water resources.